Player Discussion Alexis Lafreniere

[Hischier and Hughes]

Again, why would they have to make up stories to the press. Just omitting detailed info if they so choose would be sufficient in this scenario. Bland answers are seen all the time when talking to the press.

As long as their is transparency and responsibility between the actual parties involved, then what is needed is maintained.

bland answers arent what i really was touching on though; even if id prefer more detailed answers!

even outright not answering or saying 'well watch the tape' is fine!

what i was touching on was comments such as 'i thought he had a good game' when we all know he didnt (nobody specifically, just making an example), and that comment was made to save face and not 'put pressure on them/criticize them publicly'

that example above is just an outright lie that we see a lot from coaches in sports, often with superlatives to play it off such as 'i liked his defense though' or 'just wasnt his night'

honesty to the press tends to project whats going on in the locker room; a lack thereof leaves open the debate about a possibility of ignorance on the subject or too little responsibility being handed out

 

[UnSandvich]

Pretty much this. In context, he's not living up to expectations driven by draft position. Disappointment is understandable. Still not time to throw out the baby with the bath water as his number against the cap would not necessitate movement of the player given his current production.

It would seem, barring a miracle, that an elite, line driving, player is out but the hope is he eventually breaks out a bit like a Sam Renheirt (2OA) or another 1OA in Nugent-Hopkins.

Both Rangers and Laf have 2 years to find out.

It's a perception problem, as opposed to a player problem to me

 

[haohmaru]

 

[Slaydagnar]

I don’t think it’s the confidence that was the initial problem. Now I’m sure it’s getting to him. In watching these highlights it’s very clear his athleticism was better. It has me almost wondering it a lot of his problems are a snowball effect from sitting back during Covid, knowing you’re going 1st and with camp and everything being delayed having a much longer offseason than normal and letting himself get out of shape and then that snowballing into struggles that turn to demotions and benching that turns to shot confidence.

Because yes, it is preseason, but I agree with Vince - Laf is being given a chance to stick in the top six this camp and he’s letting it slip through his fingers by looking like Panarin with nothing to prove and no reason to hustle. Except he does have a reason. Which makes me wonder if that means it’s effort or it’s conditioning.

Nicky said it last page but sometimes guys Laf’s age think they’re working hard in the summer but aren’t really. They think an hour every morning of cardio and weights for an hour 4 days a week is enough (and it’s good for a normal person) but their peers are putting in 4 hours 6 days a week, which means they’re training 11 hours a week and their peers are training 24. Gary Roberts’ example is perfect. It’s not necessarily even laziness. It’s just not realizing that it isn’t enough and how much conditioning and “jump” is holding you back.

He knows there are plenty of guys his age working their asses off in the gym. Rangers management needed to make sure he had a clear full time strength training and skating program lined up! He mentioned he worked on his skating with the Rangers gal that works on skating a “couple of times” WTF this is on him and team management

 

[Gordon Bombay]

Laf has become Ales Kotalik without the shot. It's very disappointing he hasn't taken the bull by the horns here.

 

[LokiDog]

He knows there are plenty of guys his age working their asses off in the gym. Rangers management needed to make sure he had a clear full time strength training and skating program lined up! He mentioned he worked on his skating with the Rangers gal that works on skating a “couple of times” WTF this is on him and team management

I noticed that it was specifically mentioned that he worked with the skating coach “a couple of times” and I did have the same reaction - how does this kid not have a prescribed program for the summer? Why only a couple times? Why not 3x a week?

 

[Slaydagnar]

I noticed that it was specifically mentioned that he worked with the skating coach “a couple of times” and I did have the same reaction - how does this kid not have a prescribed program for the summer? Why only a couple times? Why not 3x a week?

I just re-watched that clip of him being grilled about his off-season training regiment
Holy hell sounded like training was barely coordinated with management
He was shifty and nervous in his answers-disappointing indeed

 

[Priorae]

Lav is an old school coach. I think it’s fair to assume that conversations this weekend may go like this: “If he wasn’t 1OA, would he make this team?”

Right now the pedigree of the pick is his greatest value, cause it ain’t on the ice. He’s not Krav, who was simply not an NHL player, so he’s got that going for him.

 

[haohmaru]

I like his game so far tonight.

 

[Rempe73]

Wrong thread

 

[EXTRAS]

I noticed that it was specifically mentioned that he worked with the skating coach “a couple of times” and I did have the same reaction - how does this kid not have a prescribed program for the summer? Why only a couple times? Why not 3x a week?

If I had millions of dollars on the line it would be 6x a week. The next 2 years could turn him into an 8m aav guy or a 1m aav guy. I'd be busting my balls. Kid should go work a 40 hour work week in a dead-end job and then decide if he wants those millions or not.

 

[NickyFotiu]

I just re-watched that clip of him being grilled about his off-season training regiment
Holy hell sounded like training was barely coordinated with management
He was shifty and nervous in his answers-disappointing indeed

Please post link to the clip.

 

[ChesterNimitz]

The curse of the consensus.

It was obvious to any who had a modicum of knowledge of the game and actually took the time to watch this kid play that he lacked the dynamic skating that warranted his selection as 1 OA.

 

[PANARIN BREAD FAN]

as an experiment lavi ought go keenan on 13's ass and leave him out there for 5-7 minutes straight .

If I had millions of dollars on the line it would be 6x a week. The next 2 years could turn him into an 8m aav guy or a 1m aav guy. I'd be busting my balls. Kid should go work a 40 hour work week in a dead-end job and then decide if he wants those millions or not.

and he makes more than blake wheeler.

 

[Oscar Lindberg]

The curse of the consensus.

It was obvious to any who had a modicum of knowledge of the game and actually took the time to watch this kid play that he lacked the dynamic skating that warranted his selection as 1 OA.

As opposed to Byfield who’s been equally if not more disappointing?

Laf was always gonna be #1, saying otherwise is nonsense

 

[EXTRAS]

As opposed to Byfield who’s been equally if not more disappointing?

Laf was always gonna be #1, saying otherwise is nonsense

Yeah he absolutely dominated the world juniors at in his pre-draft season. Nobody really looked closely to him at the time.

 

[Oscar Lindberg]

How has that ‘nonsense’ worked out for the Rangers?

He’s at worst a middle 6 NHL player that puts up 35-40 points. Obviously not anywhere near his expectations but still a serviceable guy

The only other guy who was talked about as a potential for #1 was Byfield who can’t sniff the league full time.

You can say they should have taken Stuezle in hindsight but the entire hockey world would have laughed at the Rangers taking him 1

 

[Brother Mouzone]

Most frustrated thread on HF

 

[Savant]

I like his game so far tonight.

Was god awful on Boston’s winning goal

 

[EdJovanovski]

 

[NickyFotiu]

He’s at worst a middle 6 NHL player that puts up 35-40 points. Obviously not anywhere near his expectations but still a serviceable guy

The only other guy who was talked about as a potential for #1 was Byfield who can’t sniff the league full time.

You can say they should have taken Stuezle in hindsight but the entire hockey world would have laughed at the Rangers taking him 1

Bob had Tim not Byfield ranked #2 on draft night.

 

[Oscar Lindberg]

Bob had Tim not Byfield ranked #2 on draft night.

Again, no one was talking about taking Stuezle at 1. Not a soul.

It was always Lafreniere with an outside, minuscule chance of Byfield cause he was a center

 

[NickyFotiu]

Again, no one was talking about taking Stuezle at 1. Not a soul.

It was always Lafreniere with an outside, minuscule chance of Byfield cause he was a center

The Rangers didn't even tell Laf he would be the pick. Laf didn't know till the pick was made. While almost all scouts had Laf as #1 the Detroit scout had Tim as #1. I don't blame the Rangers for taking Laf. It just doesn't look great right now. If I was Drury I would start talking to other teams about their guys just to see if anyone brings up Laf.

 

[JCProdigy]

bland answers arent what i really was touching on though; even if id prefer more detailed answers!

even outright not answering or saying 'well watch the tape' is fine!

what i was touching on was comments such as 'i thought he had a good game' when we all know he didnt (nobody specifically, just making an example), and that comment was made to save face and not 'put pressure on them/criticize them publicly'

that example above is just an outright lie that we see a lot from coaches in sports, often with superlatives to play it off such as 'i liked his defense though' or 'just wasnt his night'

honesty to the press tends to project whats going on in the locker room; a lack thereof leaves open the debate about a possibility of ignorance on the subject or too little responsibility being handed out

Copy. Truth be told, I don't pay much mind to anything coaches, players, etc. say in interviews during the season. I really don't care to be honest because, in the end, actions speak. Also a "lie" about a player playing good is kind of funny because on a nightly basis here, people disagree how good a player played in any given game. Anyways off-topic for this thread...

It's a perception problem, as opposed to a player problem to me

Yeah, I definitely can see where you are coming from.

Bob had Tim not Byfield ranked #2 on draft night.

Doesn't matter. Laf was earmarked for the 1OA. Every GM would have likely drafted him as such. So would most every poster here no matter what they say three years later. Why, because if you (the GM) pick Lafreniere, as long as you don't f*** him around and he doesn't pan out, executives around the league shrug their shoulders. If you pick Stutzle or Byfield over Lafreniere and he lives up to the hype then, well you're f***ed for trying to be the smartest guy in the room.

Hell, Laf was easily being talked about as the top pick before the Hughes/Kakko draft. Several ppl in this forum even said, forget Hughes, the real prize is next year and Lafreniere. Certainly hasn't turned out that way.

 

[NickyFotiu]

Copy. Truth be told, I don't pay much mind to anything coaches, players, etc. say in interviews during the season. I really don't care to be honest because, in the end, actions speak. Also a "lie" about a player playing good is kind of funny because on a nightly basis here, people disagree how good a player played in any given game. Anyways off-topic for this thread...


Yeah, I definitely can see where you are coming from.


Doesn't matter. Laf was earmarked for the 1OA. Every GM would have likely drafted him as such. So would most every poster here no matter what they say three years later. Why, because if you (the GM) pick Lafreniere, as long as you don't f*** him around and he doesn't pan out, executives around the league shrug their shoulders. If you pick Stutzle or Byfield over Lafreniere and he lives up to the hype then, well you're f***ed for trying to be the smartest guy in the room.

Hell, Laf was easily being talked about as the top pick before the Hughes/Kakko draft. Several ppl in this forum even said, forget Hughes, the real prize is next year and Lafreniere. Certainly hasn't turned out that way.

I understand your point and you are right except for one teams scout. The Detroit scout had Tim #1 before the draft not 3 years later. All the others had Laf #1.